Deputies seek witness in Prospect shooting

Sheriff's deputies are looking for a woman who fled the area after her boyfriend was shot by a neighbor in Prospect last week.

By chris conrad

Sheriff's deputies are looking for a woman who fled the area after her boyfriend was shot by a neighbor in Prospect last week.

Jackson County sheriff's detectives believe Mindy Lavon Bowen, 32, has valuable information about the case, which left her boyfriend, Christopher Thomas Larson, hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Bowen has numerous warrants for her arrest on felony identity theft and methamphetamine charges, so she might not be so keen on contacting the police, said sheriff's Lt. Christine Bronson.

"She does have the warrants, but we are hoping she does the right thing and contacts us," Bronson said.

Larson was treated at a local hospital and released, and has since been arrested, officials said.

According to court records, Larson had two warrants issued for his arrest, including one in April for a charge of felony assault and another in January for a charge of methamphetamine possession.

He was arrested Tuesday on those and other warrants and lodged in the Jackson County Jail.

The case began when deputies were called to the 1500 block of Mill Creek Drive in Prospect just before 2 p.m. July 29 for a report of a shooting.

When they arrived, they contacted 53-year-old John Davidson, who said that he had shot Larson, 34, in self-defense.

Davidson called 911 to report the shooting. Bowen is believed to have been near the scene, but disappeared before deputies arrived, Bronson said.

"We hope that she wants to help her boyfriend in this case and will come forward," Bronson said.

The shooting appears to be a culmination of several confrontations between Larson and Davidson over the past two months. Davidson said he decided to arm himself with a .44-caliber handgun while walking around his property because the confrontations turned more aggressive in the week before the shooting.

Davidson has not been charged with a crime connected with the shooting, officials said.

Sheriff's investigators are asking that anyone who sees Bowen to call 911 to report her location by calling the Jackson County Tip Line at 541-774-8333. Detectives ask callers to leave their contact information.